title: [Specific features of nitrogen fixation in the termite Reticulitermes lucifugus].
abstract: Nitrogenase activity, abundance of diazotrophic bacteria, and structural and functional parameters have been determined in microbial complexes of three populations of the termite Reticulitermes lucifugus and their nest materials. These data have been used for comparative analysis of nitrogen-fixing micioorganism communities in termite guts and in nest materials from different termite populations. Similarities in the structure and other parameters of these communities have been revealed. The taxonomic composition of microbial communities differs among the populations, but the functional properties of these communities are almost identical. It is concluded that no symbiotic (mutualistic) relationship exists between nitrogen-fixing intestinal bacteria and their host termites.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Vecherskiĭ
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kostina
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gorlenko
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dobrovol'skaia
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Umarov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*